Tag Archives: National Parks

This summer, I developed a strong desire to spend some time in the wilderness. Real adventure that gets me out of my comfort zone. (For the record, I had done one real, adventurous, very legit camping trip in Alaska when I was in high school, but I was along for the ride with some camping experts and didn’t do any of the planning, so it didn’t feel like that counted.) So bought a bunch of stuff at REI, researched online, and planned a short, beginner backpacking trip for my husband and our dog in Shenandoah National Park. Of course it rained on the planned weekend and we had to cancel our adventure. A few weeks later, I did some camping in Wyoming at formal campsites and really loved sleeping outdoors, but I didn’t want winter to arrive without having done a real backpacking trip. So I somehow persuaded my wonderful husband to head out in much colder weather than originally anticipated (it was now October instead of August!) for a backpacking trip. We survived! Even with just one little weekend trip, I’ve already learned a ton, and I wanted to share it with other aspiring adventurers. Without further ado:

As I reported earlier this week, I recently completed the Mesa Falls Marathon in Idaho (no, you da ho). But that was just the beginning of the fun. The race was conveniently located near Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, so of course I had to check them out. Especially because the National Park Service had just celebrated its centennial! Woohoo!

I LOVED these parks and they each had unique vibes and attractions. Here are some of my top tips for when to visit, where to stay, what to eat, and what to do in Yellowstone and GTNP. Oh, and a few notes on things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming during the summer.